Rider: minimum wage and protection, it is discussed with the Ministry of Employment

Luigi Di Maio's first crusade at the helm of the Ministry of Labor is in favor of the RIDER by profession, the guys who make deliveries by bicycle for companies such as Foodora, Deliveroo, JustEat, Glovo and Domino's Pizza. They are "the symbol of an abandoned generation that has no protection and sometimes not even a contract", said the minister in recent days, who then reiterated the concept via Facebook:

To improve the working conditions of these people, Di Maio intends to launch a "Dignity decree", which would extend to RIDER the protection of subordinate workers (illness, holidays and maternity leave) and a minimum salary, in line with those provided for by collective agreements (today the expected salary is 5 euros gross per delivery, which becomes 3,60 net). The new "right to disconnect" would also be introduced, i.e. the possibility of not being contacted by the company for at least 11 consecutive hours every 24.

The project has sparked controversy with the companies involved. Sunday, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, the managing director of Foodora Italia, Gianluca Cocco, said that the Dignity decree would cause "the abandonment of Italy by digital platforms: operators will be forced to hire all collaborators, they will close their doors and the undeclared will triumph" .

Di Maio disagrees: “I have every will to encourage the growth of new businesses related to the gig economy – he assured – If we work together, Italy will become the model to follow. But let's be clear: we don't accept blackmail. Our young people first of all”.

After meeting a delegation of RIDER, today at 14 pm Di Maio awaits the representatives of the five companies that live thanks to bicycle deliveries at the Ministry of Labor. All without any union mediation.

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Stop the dignity decree, at least for now. In its place "A negotiating table will be created between the representatives of the riders and the representatives of the large digital platforms" who offer home meal delivery services. This was announced by the Minister of Labor and Economic Development, Luigi Di Maio, meeting journalists at the end of a meeting at the Ministry of Labor with company representatives. On the timing "I want to resolve it as soon as possible - said the minister - otherwise we will intervene with the rules".

"If a tipping point is found" through concertation and dialogue "it's good for the country, it's good for democracy, it's good for the economy", continued Di Maio, explaining that the preferred path is that of negotiation. “I would like to ensure minimum protection for this category, the riders, who are often young and sometimes even willing to work without pay”.

“We have two paths, the first is for the government to introduce legislation on protection, reimbursement of expenses, minimum wages, etc. The second is to open a table and build a new model together. I have proposed this to the companies and I have been told that they are open to a dialogue, to allow their business to continue".